Since he arrived at the doorstep in August, unsung and mostly unheard of 2022 Central Pointe Post Grad Academy guard Trey Jones turned in wildly athletic, momentum bolstering dunks capable of sending gyms into a frenzy.
He quickly registered his impact as a hard attacking and rebounding guard with defensive versatility, a guy who may have slipped through the cracks recruiting-wise.
Developing as a heady passer (he’s had nine games of seven or more assists this season, including seven in a win over Believe Prep at the Mount Zion Invite in Maryland) while working to make his jumper as reliable as his downhill game have all been areas of focus.
“Trey’s court vision, handle, and explosiveness are some of the best I’ve seen at this level,” explained Central Pointe Post Grad head coach Brad Traina, the former UCF 3-point ace who has coached the likes of Luguentz Dort (Arizona State/NBA), Dexter Dennis (Wichita State), and Jason Preston (Ohio/NBA) during his time coaching at the high school and prep level.
Traina was a high scoring 6-foot-6 off guard during a 12-year professional career throughout multiple countries, including Italy.
In pushing Jones’ development, he knew refining his shot and shot release was the first priority of business.
While Jones has leaned on a thorough mid range game, he’s beginning to shed the label of “athlete” and expand his range to become more of an all around player and transition to the Division-1 level.
He’s heard from the likes of Hawaii, Marist, Sam Houston, IUPUI, and Western Kentucky, albeit no offer is on the table yet.
Jones said transforming his body and adjusting to a quickened pace has been a critical component in his day to day development.
He scored 17 points and dished out four assists during a recent loss to IMG’s post grad team in Bradenton, Fla.
Jones’ 25 points, including several timely shots down the stretch, helped propel CPCA to a win over Veritas Prep at the Miami Prep tournament in late January.
At Little Rock Christian Academy in Arkansas, Jones adapted to more of a facilitating role, ultimately becoming a 15 PPG supplementary scorer alongside highly-touted 2023 6-foot-2 combination guard Layden Blocker (now at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas).
Transforming his body and developing power and strength have paralleled Jones’ ascension as CPCA’s leader in points (16.2) and assists (5.5). Prioritizing the weight room, Jones noted, has helped.
“This prep year is the first time I’ve ever touched weights,” Jones explained.
“We practice every day twice a day, which is different as well. My role here started off as just being the hustle guy and slashing. As the season progressed, I began to become the distributor and scorer I was in high school.”
Jones feels the prep route is a beneficial one, given his situation as a lesser heralded prospect on the periphery.
He cited the time management aspect and augmented physicality as two factors which have helped prepare him for this what’s next, which he hopes to be a Division 1 letter of intent before the summer.
“Guys in prep definitely play harder and the level of physicality is much higher,” Jones said. “Guys are definitely more athletic and better at knocking down shots.”
